THE Indonesian government has imposed new tariffs on parks and hunting grounds under the portfolio of the Ministry of Forestry, and the move is expected to result in an almost eight-fold increase in entry fees for foreign tourists.
The new regulation divides national parks, forest and natural parks tariffs into three rayon groups.
The entry fee for foreign tourists to the parks of Rayon 1 is 250,000 rupiah (US$22) per entry per day, 200,000 rupiah for Rayon 2, and 150,000 rupiah for Rayon 3. Tariffs for domestic tourists are 10 per cent of the above.
Monthly dues are also applied to the parks, payable to the national treasury for services in the parks, like tourism information, guides, transportation, travel, F&B and souvenirs.
Most of the natural tourism destinations popular with international tourists to Indonesia belong in Rayon 1. Some of the national Parks in Rayon 1 are Bromo-Tengger-Semeru, Komodo, Rinjani, Bali Barat, and Tanjung Putting, while natural parks in Rayon 1 are Mount Tangkuban Perahu, Mount Papandayan, Batimurung and Ijen Crater, among others.
The first national park announcing the new entry fee to apply as of May 1 is the management of Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National (TNBTS) in East Java.
The national media quoted TNBTS head, Ayu Dewi Utari, as saying the entry fee for domestic travellers would increase from 10,000 to 37,500 rupiah on weekdays and 67,500 rupiah on weekends and public holidays.
The entry fee for international tourists will increase from 72,500 to 267,500 rupiah on weekdays and 640,000 rupiah on public holidays.
The new ruling has shocked the travel industry, not only in East Java where Mount Bromo is the icon, but those doing Indonesia round trips.
“This (increase in Bromo’s entry fee) is really shocking …we are in the middle of a season (where package prices are already in place), and May is the beginning of the summer peak season. Contracts are fixed up to March 2015.”
He explained he is not anti-price hike as long as it is reasonable and timely: “If the government wants to increase (the fee) that high, it should plan and implement in stages.”
Yusak Anshori, chairman, Indonesia Tourism Council, East Java Chapter, pointed out: “With such an increase, what new and improved facilities does the management offer in Bromo? The government just doesn’t understand the politics of tourism. This will kill not only the industry but also the local people who live from Bromo tourism.”
Ada Travel Indonesia, Malang managing director, Supomo, revealed: “The Care for Bromo Society, which includes tourism-related associations and the groupings of Bromo Tengger societies, met yesterday and in principle, everyone rejects the regulation, and we are planning on movements of rejections, but have yet to decide on the format.”
Ayu Mandiri Tours and Travel Jogjakarta managing director, Aji Sutomo, said: “It is a big challenge for overland tour operators like us. Bromo is the icon of East Java, if we take that out of the programme, what else is there to offer (as the main draw to the destination)?”
Marintur Indonesia executive director, Ismail Ali, opined: “If it is only applied to Bromo, we can take it off the package and offer it as optional tour. But if all national parks’ entry fees are up so high, I think it will be back to square one, where everyone will only go to Bali again.”
Indonesia has seen the trend of international tourists travelling around Indonesia, beyond Bali, in the last few years.
